In the 2017-18 season, there is no the comparison between the accomplishments of Regina and the WHL champion Swift Current Broncos.

After a third-place showing in the East Division, the Pats played just seven post-season games, losing out to the Broncos.

Swift Current played a WHL record 26 playoff games, beating four quality opponents to EARN their title and a spot as one of three CHL champions.

I know many hockey observers, especially of the younger generation, believe winning a national championship, no matter how easy a ride to get there, suggests that team can brag about being Canada’s best since they supposedly peaked at the right time.

To me, the Broncos season is much superior to that of the Pats, regardless of the Memorial Cup results.

The same goes for Wenatchee, who won the BCHL Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup, which is much more impressive than anything Chilliwack can do, including winning the RBC.

They haven’t had to endure the grind of traveling miles after miles on the bus, and only had to mentally gear up for a few games, not a few series.

This topic seems to come up each year at this time, and garners even more attention when the host team excels at the nationals after crumbling early in their league playoffs.

Regina has a good team and thought they got better when they acquired Jesse Gabrielle’s rights from the Prince George Cougars in January, however, Gabrielle won’t play in the Memorial Cup due to a foot injury that he suffered in the last regular season game.

Swift Current obviously has an excellent team, which includes defenceman Josh Anderson, who was acquired early in the new year from the Cougars for a pair of first-round Bantam draft picks.

Ordinarily, I have no preference if the Pats or Broncos win the Memorial Cup or if the Chiefs or Wild win the RBC, but this year I would much rather see success for Swift Current and Wenatchee on the national stage.

The best analogy I can think of is that Swift Current and Wenatchee are running a 26-mile marathon, while Regina and Chilliwack have entered the race on even terms at the 20 mile mark.

If the Pats and Chiefs win the last six miles of the race (after not having to go thru the first 20) does that make them a true winner?

Taking a shortcut to capturing a national title diminishes the accomplishment, but try to convince that logic to the host team, should they win.

ESPN Films and Netflix will release a 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan. It’ll be called “The Worst Baseball Player of All Time.”

*Seth Meyers of Late Night

A growing number of people are going to e-sport arenas to watch other people play video games. It combines the thrill of going to a live sporting event with the thrill of having an unemployed roommate.

*Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon

The International Olympic Committee is threatening to remove boxing from the 2020 Games due to corruption and links with organized crime. Well, if that’s the criteria for banishment, then why is the IOC still in existence.”

There was some big Supreme Court news. The highest court in the land has struck down a federal law that banned sports gambling. So now it’s going to be legal to bet on sports. Then every sports fan in America was like, “Oh, good! We can start betting now.” Whew.

*Late Late Show host James Corden

White House lawyer Ty Cobb resigned recently. So what now, back to playing baseball?

*Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon says he’s open to urinating on his middle finger to heal a cut on it. Well, this should cut down on excessive autograph requests.”

Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT.
He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@thegoatrocks.ca.
Follow him on Twitter: @Hartley_Miller.